Community Resilience Grant Program

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The damages and impacts resulting from flood events present a substantial threat to communities, infrastructure and natural resources throughout the state. Since 2007, Maryland has experienced four hurricane and flood events warranting Presidential Disaster Declarations, resulting in more than $95 million in federal public assistance. This program requests actions that can be taken before a flood event to reduce the risk to life, property, and natural resources. The funds will be used for projects that seek to achieve this reduced risk in whatever manner is most feasible for the local community

Maryland's Community Resilience Grants combine the funding previously available under CoastSmart and Green Infrastructure Resiliency Grant programs. Leveraging federal dollars with newly available state funds to address resiliency in Maryland, the state is better able to promote and support comprehensive, holistic planning and implementation projects through this new grant program. The grant program takes a holistic, watershed-scale planning approach to address both water quality and quantity. Ideal projects will foster innovative adaptation strategies that ensure that Maryland communities are increasingly resilient to flood risks, work to ascertain that Bay and ocean waters meet living resource and human needs, and serve to enhance the protection and management of the state’s resources. Projects should help communities more clearly communicate the risks associated with hazards in order to better protect citizens, infrastructure, and natural resources.

Grants are made possible by funding provided by the State of Maryland, the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the EPA.

Phases

Project proposals must be submitted under one of the three following phases: Understand, Plan, or Implement. Each phase reflects where a local community may be in preparedness. Projects submitted under all phases will receive equal consideration for funding. Each phase is meant to build upon complementary tasks such as community engagement.

Phase 1 - Understand

Local governments that have yet to complete a formal assessment of the risk natural hazards pose to their community are encouraged to submit a project proposal under Phase 1. Projects in this category should propose bringing together existing resources and data (such as hazard mitigation plans and Flood Insurance Rate Maps) to develop a holistic understanding of what is at-risk (built and natural infrastructure) to tidal, stormwater or riparian flooding. Phase 1 proposals may request up to $75,000 of funding for projects that will be a maximum of one year in duration.

Phase 2 – Plan

Local governments that have quantified and understand their vulnerability and risk are encouraged to apply for a grant in this category. Under Phase 2, projects will use data from vulnerability assessments and other existing resources to either research and evaluate current planning processes for how and where to integrate hazard planning strategies or move forward with updating and adopting updated planning processes. These projects should result in higher regulatory standards and risk-reduction strategies. Applicants must identify a program change (change in local policies) for which the funding is being sought. Proposals may request up to $75,000 of funding for projects that will be a maximum of one year in duration.

Assess or evaluate impacted infrastructure (built or natural) with the intent to address current and anticipated flood impacts

Phase 3 – Implement

Local governments and non-profit organizations can submit proposals under this phase to design and permit a resilience project that addresses coastal hazards, stormwater hazards, and/or floodplain management needs. Proposals must be for natural and nature-based resilience projects (i.e. green infrastructure); gray infrastructure (such as bulkheads, conventional stormwater system upgrades and sea walls) will not be funded. CCS can assist applicants to define and identify potential green infrastructure projects that will increase their resilience to specific climate hazards. Proposals may request up to $100,000 of funding for projects that will be a maximum of two years in duration. Once a project is designed and permitted, CCS will work with the partners to fund the construction of the project, but construction funding is not guaranteed. Applicants cannot propose construction projects without first receiving funding for design and permitting through this grant program.

Examples of projects may include:

Design a green infrastructure practice that will address previously-determined stormwater risks anticipated due to climate change

Design an innovative coastal resilience project that will restore or enhance natural features (such as high and low marsh, dunes, coastal forest buffer, and near-shore habitats) while protecting critical infrastructure